Signal



M. M`- MOORE June 18, 1929'.

S I GNAL Filed May 11, 192'? 9.......1 1..... 18,1929. if Y l1,111,611 i.

UNITED STATES PATENT.' OFFICE;

MILTON M. MOORE, F ALTADENA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB TO MARY AVERY SHEBFEE,

' OIE'` LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SIGNAL.

Appiication mea may 11, 1927. serial no. 190,466.

rlhis invention has to do with a signal and bein a view taken as indicated by line 44 it is an object of the invention to provide an on 1g. 3; and 55 effective, improved signal useful for various Fig. 5 is an electrical diagram illustrating purposes. f the control provided by this invention. 5 My present invention provides, generally, My present invention provides primarily a a. compact, sightly and eEective signal signal embodyin alens including light filterwhereby a plurality of signals of different ing means Where ylight transmitted through 60 'colors are given from a single lens. The it is predominantly one color, andilluminatsignal provided by this invention is readily ing means behind the lens for generating in applicable to many uses; for instance. it can light to be transmitted through the lens so be used to advantage in signalling equipment that the transmitted light is predominantly of railroad systems, in traflic signals, on Ve-` one color, and another or second illuminating 65 hir-les, and in numerous other situations. The means behind the lens for generating light to y invention is particularly useful and practical be transmitted through the lens, the color.v as a vehicle signal and, therefore, I will devalue of the light generated by the second ilsei-ibo a. typical form and application of the luminating means bein different from that linvention suitable for use on a vm'otor vehicle generated by the first illuminating means so 7o for the purpose of signaling to the operators that the light transmitted by the lens from of other vehicles. Itis to be understood that the second illuminating means is of a color this reference to theuse of the invention is different from that transmitted from the not to bo construed as a restriction or limitafirst illuminating means. tion upon the broader principles of the inven- The invention, that is, the principal ele- 75 tion.. ments constituting the invention, are capable ltv is a primary object of this invention to of embodiment or incorporation in various provide a signal having a single lens` and constructionsandarrangements. Forthepurmeans whereby the lens can be illuminated pose of example, I will proceed with a detoappearindifferent colors. tailed description of one typical arrangeso lt is another object of my 'invention -to ment and formation of the elements of the a provide' a signal having a lens with illumiinvention, from which description it is be- 3or natin g means for directinglight through the lieved that the modifications of the invention ylens so that the transmitted light is one color, will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

vand second illuminating means for `directing In the drawings, I have illustrated the light through the lens whereby the light signal as including a lens 10, a housing 11 trarismitted by the lens is another color. carrying the lens 1() and forming two com- 5 Another object of the invention is to propartments A and B behind the lens, illumivide features of construction and arrangenating means 12 in the compartment A, ilment of parts `for a device ofthecharacter luminating means 13 in the compartment B, 90

mentioned to produce a compact, sightly, efand suitable control means 14 for the illumifective and inexpensive article of manufacnating means 12 and 13. 40k ture. a In accordance with my invention, the lens y The various objects and features ofthe in- 10 is colored or provided with light filtering vention will be best and more fully undermeans whereby light transmitted through it 95 stood from the following detailed'- descripl is predominantly of one color. In carrying tion of a typical form and application of the out my invention, the desired light filtering invention, throughoutwhieh description refmeans may be combined or incorporated in orenceis had to the accompanying drawings, the lens 10 in any suitable manner; for in-V in which; stance, the lens may be formed of glass, or 100' i Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a signal emthe like, colored to have the desired light bodying my invention; filtering action, or the lens may constitute a Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the signal; body of clear glass, or the like, having in com- Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, detailed, sectional bination with it a film of light filtering mateview of the signal; rial. In the drawings, I have shown the lens 105 Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the signal, of the last mentioned formation, in which vcase it includes two plates and 16 of glass,

or the like, between which is arran ed the f l ht filtering means. For urpose o examp e, the lass platesl an 16 may be considered c ear glass while the light filteringmeans may be considered as one or more co1- ored lms such, for example, as colored gelatin films. In carrying out this form of construction, a single filter iilm 17 of the proper light filtering properties is suiiicient to give the desired result. By obtaining the deslred light liltering action through several light filtering films 17, adjustment or variation of shading in color can be obtained through removal or insertion' of one or more of the iilms 17. In practice, I prefer to make the lens translucent; for instance, one of the plates of glass may have one side occupied by small round or prismatic projections.

The housing 11 shown in the drawings, is such that the compartmentA is immediately ,behind the lens 10, while the compartment B is located behind the compartment A. In this case, the housing 11 includes a front section havin a cylindrical body 18 closed at its rear eng by a partition forming back 19. The lens 10 is adapted to be mounted at the forward end of the body 18 to close it. In the drawings, I have shown the lens 10 mounted at the front end of the body 18 through a suitable mounting ring 20.

The rear section of the housing includes a cylindricall body 21, which corresponds to and forms a rearward continuation ofthe bod 18 of the'front section. The rear end of tbe body 21 is closed by a back 22. The

v body parts 18 and 21 of the housing maybe detachably connected through a suitable split ring 23. With the housing construction just described, the front compartment A is formed b the front section of the housing between tge partition 19 and the lens 10, while the rear compartment B is formed by the rear section between the partition 19 and back22.

The illuminating means 12, provided in the compartment A, may comprise an electric light bulb 24 carried in a suitable socket 25. In accordance with the preferred construction, the socket 25 is carried by a bracket 26 in the compartment B so that it faces the comartment A and registers with an opening 27 1n the partition 19. The socket is arranged so that the bulb 24 mounted in it is within the compartment A, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The opening 27 in the partition 19 is made suinciently large to pass the bulb 24 so/that the front section of the housing can be removed from the rear section with the bulb in place in the socket 25. A closure plate 29 projects from the socket25 to engage the rear side of the partition 19 and close the opening 27 against the passage of light.

The illuminating means 13 provided inthe l compartment B may include an electric light bulb 30,' carried in a socket 31 supported by will fulliyll transmitted by the bracket 26. In accordance with the preerred arrangement, the sockets 25 and 31 are carried by the bracket 26 so that the bulbs 24 and 30 are spaced in diametrically opposite directions from the longitudinal center or axis of the device. With this arrangement, the bulb 24 is at one side, for instance, the lower side of the device, while the bulb 30 is at the opposite or upper yside of the device.

In accordance with my invention, the partition 19 between the compartments A and B is opaque except at a part 32 substantially opposite the bulb '30, at which part it is adapted to transmit 'lightand includes light filtering means so that the transmitted light is predomin'antlyA of one color. In the particular arrangement shown in the drawings, the par- Awith an opening corresponding to the desired area or portion 32. In practice, the mat may be formed of paper, or any other suitable material that is substantially opaque. 'The desired light filtering means may be provided in the transparent'portion of the partition by the insertion of the desired light filtering film 37 between the, plates 36. With the arrangement just described, light from the bulb 30 passes .through the transparent portion or area 32 of the partition to fall upon or illuminate the lens 10. It will be apparent that by properly spacing the bulb 30 behind the partition and by properly proportioningv the transparent part 32 that light from the bulb illuminate the lens 10. In accordance wit my invention, suitable marks or devices, for instance, letters 40, may be provided on or in the partition 19 in the transparent portion 32 so that they are projected or cast upon the lens 10. The letters 40 may be painted or marked on the various parts of the partition so that they are opaque and, therefore, cast a shadow on the lens 10, or they may be formed or cut out of the filter film 37 so that they allow passage of light from the bulb 30 to the` lens 10 without being filtered. For purpose. of example, we will consider the letters 40'provided on the partition 10 in the last mentioned manner.

In accordance with my invention, various color combinations may be employed in carrying out the invention. For purpose of example, I will refer to the lens 10 as contain-A ing light filtering means whereby light from an ordinary 'electric light bulb 24 will be the lens predominantly' red. For example, 1n practice, I may provide urple and yellow filter films 17 in the lensl alanced so that the light from the bulb 24, which contains a substantial amount of red, is transmitted through the lens as a decidedly or predominantly red light. In this case, a green or blue-green filter film 37 embodied in. the partition v19 will cause light transmitted through the lens 10 from the bulb 30 to be decidedly or predominantly green. Thus, by a suitable balance or relationship between the filter means in the lens 10 and partition 19, the lens will transmit light of one color when illuminated by the bulb 24 and will transmit light of a decidedly different color when illuminated by the bulb 30.,` It is to be lUl ' light.

understood that the particular color combination above mentioned is merely typical and given for purpose of example, as it will be obvious to those familiar with the filtration of light that an infinite number of color combinations can be obtained through suitably relating and balancing the light filter means.

The particular device disclosed in the drawings is designed and provided primarily as a light, for instance, a signal light, for use on the rear of a motor vehicle to act as a tail light, a backing up light, and as a warning For the pur ose of a tail light, the bulb 24 is normally Eept burning sufficiently to cause light to be transmitted through the lens 10 so that the light gives a red signal corresponding tothe customary vehicle tail light. For the purpose of a backing up light, the bulb 24 may be operated to direct a strong light through the lens 10, causing a strong red light to shine from the device to give a substantial amount of illumination to the rear of the vehicle, enabling the driver to see a substantial distance to the rear of the vehicle.,

For the purpose of a warning or signal light, for instance, to indicate that the operator of the vehicle is about to stop, the bulb 30 may be operated, causing green light to be transmitted by the lens 10 in a manner to give other motorists a warning signal. With the particular construction above described, letters may be cutout of the filter film 37 to forml the word Stop, in which case operation of the bulb 30 will cause the lens 10 to transmit green light except where light is transmitted through it directly from the bulb 30 through the letter openings in the filter 37 where it will transmit red light, thus giving a signal comprising theword Stop appearing in red in a field or background of green.

For the purpose of a signal of the character above mentioned, I provide a control system whereby the bulb 24 may normally operate to illuminate the lens 10 as a tail light, or may be operated to illuminate the lens 10 brightly as a backing up light, while the bulb 24 may be put out of operation and the bulb 30 into 0pei'ation, illuminating the lens 10 to give the stop signal. The control system is illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings wherein 50 designates a battery or source of electrical energy. T he bulb 24 in this case may be a two filament bulb including a small or low power filament 51 and a large or high power filament 52. In I accordance with the practice. ordinarily followed in wiring systemsof this character, one

pole of the battery is rounded through a ground connection'53. ne terminal of the filament 51 and one terminal of the filament 52 is connected to ground through a suitable ground connection 54. The other terminal vof the filament 51 is connected withv a. main line 55 from the other pole of the battery 50 through a line 56 in which is connected a genf eral control switch 57 and a solenoid operated switch 58. The switch 57 is normally closed and is adapted to be opened only upon energization of the solenoid 59. The switch 57 is a control switch which may be located at the instrument'board of the vehicle so that the operator can conveniently control the operation of the filament 51. 4The second terminal of the large filament 52 is connected with the line 5 5 from the battery 50 by a line 60. A suitable control switch 61'is provided in the line 60 so that the circuit to the filament-52 can be closed. The switch 61 is preferably arranged in connection with the gear shift lever 62 of the vehicle so that the switch 61 is automatically closed upon the gear shift lever being arranged in position to engage the reverse gears of the vehicle.v With this arrangement, ythe circuit to the large filament 52 is automatically closed upon theoperator throwing the car into reverse gear. This operation not only gives a warning signal to those 'behind the vehicle, but also throws a strong light to the rear of the vehicle, enabling the operator to see a'substantial distance behind the vehicle. The bulb 30 is provided with a filament 65 having one terminal connected with ground through a suitable ground connection 66 and the other terminal connected with the line 55 through a line 67. In accordance with my invention, the winding of the solenoid 59 `isconnected in series in the line 67 and a control switch 70 is provided in the line 67. The control switch 70 is preferablyyoperatively connected with the brake pedal 71 of the vehicle so that it is automatically closed When the brake pedal 71 is operated. With this ary rangement, the closing of the switch 70 through operation of the brake pedal 71 causes energization of the solenoid 59 so that the switch 58 is opened, thus opening the circuit to the small filament 51 from the bulb 'A the small filament 51 of the bulb 24 is enerized, and gives a bright red light suitable for acking up when the large filament 52 of the bulb is energized. A very effective and ati tract-ive stop warning signal is given when the filament 65 of the bulb 30 is energized, the

down the effectiveness of contrast of color obtained when the bulb 30 is in operation.

- ing light of different color values fromv Having described only atypical preferred form of my invention, I do notwish to limit myself to the specific details set fort-h, but wlsh to reserve to myself an changes or variations that may appear to t ose skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A signal including a lens, means for im# arting a certain color to rays of light passing through any part of the lens, illuminating means, and means for changing the color of rays of light passing through predetermined portions of the lens.

2. A signalr including a lens, means for impartin a certain color to rays of -light passing t iroughY an part of the lens, two independently opera le illuminating means, and means whereby operation of one of said illuminating means will effect a change in the color of rays of light passing through predetermined portions of the lens.

3. A signal including a lens, illuminating means, a color filter between the illuminating means and lens for imparting' a certain color to rays of light passing through it and the lens, and means for changing the color of rays of light passing through prede-v termined portions of the lter and lens.

4. A signal including a lens having light filtering means, illuminating means for the lens, a second illuminating means, and means for simultaneously directing lights of different color values from the second illuminat ing means through diierent portions of the light filtering means of the lens.

5. A signal including a lens having light lfiltering means, illuminating means for the lens, a second illuminating means forv the lens, means for simultaneously direqtsaid second illuminating means through 'different portions of the light filtering means of thev lens, and automatic control means whereby the first mentioned illuminating means is out of operation when the second illuminating means is in o ration.

6. A signal including a housing, aV lens atthe front of the housing, a partition in the housing spaced, behind the lens, a light in the housing in front of the partition, a light in the housing behind the partition, and light filtering means at `the partition between the last mentioned light andthe lens, there being marks on the light filtering means at the partition for the purpose specified.

7 A signal including a housing, a lens at the front of the housing, the lens embodying light filtering'means whereby all-rays of light passing throu h the lens will have a certain' color, a partition in the housing spaced b ehind the lens, a light in the housing in front of the partition, a ight in the housing behind the partition,- and light filtering means at the partition between the last mentioned light and the lens adapted to eiect change in the color of rays assing through predetermined fportions of t e lens :when thev light in rear o the Vpartition is o rative.

8. A signal including a ousin a lens at the front of the housing, means or imparting a certain color to all rays of light passing through the lens, an apertured partition in the housing spaced behind the lens, a light in the housing in front of the partition, a light in the housing behind the partition, and light filtering means adjacent the partition between the Vlast mentioned light and the lens and adapted to eiiect change in color of rays of light passing through predetermined portions of the lens.

9. A signal including a housingprovided with ra light displa opening, an illuminating means within t e housing, means interposed between said illuminating means and the opening of the housing to impart a certain 'color to rays ot light passing through the opening, and means within the housing for changing the color of rays of light passing through predetermined portions of said color imparting means.`

10. A signal including a housing provide with a light display opening, an illuminating means within the housing, light lterin means betwen said illuminating means an the opening in the housing for imparting a certain color to rays of light passing through the opening, a second illuminating means, and means between the last said illuminating means and the light filtering means vfor changing the color of rays of light passing through predetermined portions of the light filtering means.

11. A signal comprising a housing provided with alight display opening, illuminating means within the housing, means for imparting a certain color to rays of the illuminating means passing through said opening, and means for changing the color of rays of light passing through predetermined portions of saidcolor imparting means, for the purpose described.

In witness that I claim the foregoin I have hereunto subscribed my name this gth day of May 1927 MILTON MMOORE. 

